THE MISTAKE OF JUDAS (2)

Judas did not heed Christ’s warnings. Apparently, Judas was warned periodically throughout Jesus’ ministry, as is illustrated by John 6:70. At the end, when his sin had progressed and was at the point of controlling him, Jesus confronted him with it. In spite of his close association with Jesus, Judas ignored Him because of a hardened heart. He cherished his sinister ambition more than his relationship with Christ. He had gone to the Sanhedrin perhaps as early as Tuesday evening (see Matthew 26:14–16).

Judas did not take advantage of his golden opportunities. What would it have been like to have daily associations with Jesus, the Son of God? How could one live in this kind of fellowship and not grow into the likeness of Christ? It is difficult to comprehend that one could be in this relationship and still resist the powerful influence of Jesus’ life, allowing the devil to control him. Even so, Judas went down in history as one who managed to throw away this magnificent privilege. Beyond these twelve, no member of the human race has ever had such a life with Jesus. Judas’ situation simply has no parallel. He threw away the priceless life that he was able to lead as an apostle. Peter said of him, “For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry . . . from which [he] turned aside to go to his own place” (Acts 1:17–25).

Judas did not grasp the dimensions of what was happening. He did not recognize that the greatest event in history was taking place. Jesus had told His apostles that He would “suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day” (Matthew 16:21b). At the Last Supper, Jesus gave the apostles a cup and said, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27b, 28).

Judas did not seek repentance. When Judas became aware that Jesus was going to be crucified, he returned the money to the priests (Matthew 27:1–10). They refused it; but he threw it down on the temple floor, crying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (v. 4a). Judas’ heart broke in remorse, but he did not seek true repentance. If he had thought about it, he could have remembered Jesus’ teachings concerning repentance. He could have looked back on our Lord’s words about the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32), about forgiving a brother seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21, 22), and about the woman taken in adultery (John 8:1–11). He knew that Jesus exemplified perfectly the teachings that He gave; but, for some reason, Judas did not seek repentance before God.

Word Affirmation: “ And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts." - Malachi 3:12 (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“ Judas’ heart broke in remorse, but he did not seek true repentance. "

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